Power-transmission apparatus.



L. M. DIETERIGH. I POWER TRANSMISSION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1911.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A77 R/VEYS L. M. DIETERIOH.

POWER. TRANSMISSION APPARATUS. 7

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1911.

1,093,922. Patented Apr. 21, 1914 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

' INVENTOR APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1911.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

sums-snail: s.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS LUDWIG M. DIETERICH, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.

POWER-TRANSMISSION APPARATUS Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 21, 1914 Application filed Kay 6, 1911. Serial No. 625,626.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUDWIG M. DIETERICH, a citizen of the United States, residin at Mount Vernon, in the county of Westc ester and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Power-Transmission Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to power transmission, and with respect to the more specific features thereof, to power transmission mechanism for converting high speed power to low speed or vice versa.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an eiii'cient and practical power transmitting mechanism which will be simple to construct and cheap to manufacture. Another object is to provide mechanism of the above character in which the wear'of the parts will be reduced to a minimum and the tendency to slip entirely eliminated.

Another object is to provide-a mechanism of the above character which will operate efliciently in either direction, or in transforming high speed to low or low speed to high. 7

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invent-ion accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated inthe following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown one of various possible embodiments of this invention, Figure'l is a longitudinal sectional View taken" at an angle of substantially 120 along the axis of the machine. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line w-m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line y-y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line Pr-z, Fig. 1, certain parts being broken away or removed for the sake of clearness. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the parts'in a slightly different position as will be more fully hereinafter explained. 0

Similar reference characters refer to $11111- lar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings more in detail and particularly to Fig. 1, 1 denotes a cylindrical casing-incl'osing the apparatus sup ported by suitable legs or pedestals 2. A driving shaft 3 having roller bearings is adapted to be directly connected to a source of power as an electric motor and passes through one endwall of the casing 1. A

' set of rollers-4, in the present case, two in number, are keyed thereon, and have slightly concave peripheries 5 coacting with threesets of rollers 6, 7 and 8, 'see Fig. 2,

positioned substantially 120 apart. These last mentioned rollers have convex peripheries each contacting with concave peripherie'sof the rollers 4 at substantially one point, thereby greatly increasing the effeciency as the parts are driven and tending to hold them in alinement. The sets of rollers 6, 7 and 8 are mounted upon studs 9, 10 and 11,, respectively, rigidly secured to the end wall of the casing 1. lhese studs comprise a central cylindrical member tapped out at each end and engaged by bolts 12 passing through washers 13. Intermediate the washers 13,.are two spacing sleeves 14 holding in place loosely mounted collars 15. The collars 15 are provided with raceways for hearing balls 16 which coact with the annular linings 17 of the rollers 6, 7 and 8. Each of the members9 and 10 is provided with a longitudinal recess 18, Fig. 2, in which is placed one or more compression s rings 19 reacting against a segment 20.- respect. tolthe end wall of the casing, these segments will always ,be "urged in the same relative direction for the purpose of forcing the rollers 6- and 7 into frictional en agement with thedriving rollers 4, as wel as a floating ring 21, surrounding the same; This .ring 21' is loosely mount-ed within-a driven member 22 keyed to an intermediate driven shaft 28. From Fig. 2

.it will be seen that this ring 21 is held in place b'y-small pins 24 which permit a slight movement in any direction with respect to the member, 22, as well as a slight angle of rotation with respect to the driving and driven members. The lower roller 8 differs slightly in its mounting from the rollers 6 and 7 in that it is limited to movement in a radial direction, that is, instead of having a recess 18 containing the spring 19, the sides of the stud are flattened and separate slightly enlarged segments 25 are positioned intermediate the ring and the sides of the stud 11. In this manner the rollers 8 can move only up and down to conform to the movement of the floating ring 21. Before .considering the remaining part of theap paratus, the operation of this part of the mechanism will be described in brief. As-- suming the shaft 3 to be driven i-n the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, the rollers 4 contacting with the rollers 6, 7 and 8 cause them to rotate in the direction of the arrows as shown. The spring19, within the stud 9,

' n'ormally'forces the roller into engagement with the driven rollers 4 and the floating the roller 4. As, of course, the force exerted in one direction cannot exceed its reactive force, the several forces will immed ately balance one another, whereby the frlction on i s the several rollers and the ring 21 is equalized and the driven member 22Qis driven smoothly and rapidly without binding the earin' s'. If desired, the direction of rotation 0 the driven shaft may be reversed when the spring19 within the stud 9 forces the roller-6 into wedging contact-with the roller, 4 and the ring 21, whereby the moment the; machineis started the rollers 4 will immediately convey motion to the ring 21. The same automatic adjustment of forcesjexerted by-the diflerent rollers will Taking, up ,the. secon immediately take lace and the member 22 will be driven in t e op osite direction. I

part of the apparatus,the driven.,shaft 23 now becomes the driving shaft, and, like the shaft 3, is suitably-mounted .in ball-bearin in a central partition 26,- Keyed to the s aft are a plu-. rality of rollers 27 -which engage a' plurality of sets ofrollers 28 arranged thereabout.

acting with the convex bearin in thejpres'ent case, .six sets, each roller hav ing a slightly; concave bearing surface cosurfaoe of the rollers 27, as well as outsi erollers 29.

.Therollers29 coact with a driven member' 30, keyed to'a driven "shaft 31'mou'nted in suitable ball-bearings 32 in=the oppositeend plate of the casing 1. Therollers 27 are greater innuniber than those of any one set or rollers 28 01729. As herein shown, they are twice the number, that is, the four central rollers coact with the rollers 28, while.

arts or.'causing unnecessary friction in the "posite directions, as

spacing the parts as shown tition 26. Bolted to this ring,

the outer rollers coact with eccentric rollers 33 rigidly secured by means of bolts 34 to shafts 35 rotatably mounted in antifriction bearings 36 in the partition 26 and a plate 37 secured thereto by means of. a plurality of transverse bolts 38. These bolts are provided with suitable collars 39 for properly in Fig. 1. Each one of the rollers 33 is secured to the shaft 35 upon which it is mounted by a threaded bolt 34 having its head positioned within a recess 41 in the surface of the roller so that it is free to move radially relatively to the surface of the shaft for reasons which will be hereinafter explained. Dia'metrically opposite the bolt 34 is a curved spring 42 which is rigidly secured by means of a bolt 43 to the shaft 35. This springnormally holds the opposite side of the roller 33 in engagement with the shaft 35, as shown clearly in Fig. 4, and is of such strength as to be compressed when the roller 33 is rotated at a high rate of speed and the side thereof opposite the spring, which is of greater weight, moves outwardly under centrifugal force to the position shown in Fig. 5. There are three double sets of these friction rollers or reversing rollers at each end of the shafts, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The reverse rollers of each pair act in opshown in Fig. 1, that is, one of the rollers 33 is in engagement with one of the rollers 27, while the adjacent roller is out of engagement with the roller 27 and in engagement with a ring 44 surrounding the ysame.- Consequently, as the rollers 27 start to rotate, the shaft 35 will also be rotated, causing the ring 44 to rotate within an annular flange 45 on the parby means of bolts 46 carrying rollers 29, is a similarly shaped ring 47, between which these rollers are positioned. The ring 47 rotates within an annular flange 48 on the plate 37. Interposed between each bolt 46 and the rollers 29 are rubber rolls or bearings 49 for producing a cushioning effect as the rollers wedge between the driving rollers 28 and the driven member 30. The operation of follows: The shaft 23 is driven at a reduced rate of speed-by the mechanism heretofore .shaft 23 is described, which rotates the rollers 27. Motion is transmitted from these rollers through the rollers 28; to the rollers 29 carried by the frame constituted by the rings 44 and 47 connected by the bolts 46, thence to the driven member 30 in-substantially the manner heretofore described. -When, it is dcsired to reverse the direction of rotation, the

reversed in. the ma ner heretofore described which causes the rollers 27 to turn in the opposite direction. The rollers 28 and 29 will immediately cease to have their wedging connection to turn the memthis reversing, however, is so slight that the change in drive is almost immediate. As soon as the rollers 27 turn in'the opposite direction they will engage the sets of rollers 33 which will cause the rings 44 and 47 to rotate within the flanges 4:5 and 48 until the rollers 29 are forced into wedging engagement with the next adjacent rollers 28, andthe member 30 as shown in Fig.

3. The dotted positionof the rollers 29 to the left of the top roller in this figure is the position of that roller when the machine is reversed. It is to be noted'that all of the rollers are loosely mounted upon the parts supporting the same whereby they are free to turn and equalize the pressure exerted thereon by their slight movement. The angle into which these several parts are wedged in contact depends upon the co-eflicient of friction of" the material of the bearing sur-. faces and varies inversely with this factor.

It is thus seen that this invention provides for a simple and practical power transmission mechanism adapted to trans mit power obtained from a motor revolving at a high rate of speed, for example, and deliver substantially thesame horsepower at a speed greatly reduced. The mechanism as herein shown is adapted to receive power as high as 20,000 revolutions per minute'and r reduce the same to substantially a thousand revolutions per minute, the intermediate shaft 23 'beingdriven at substantially 4,000 revolutions per minute. It is, of course, to be understood that by slightly varying the proportions of the rollers from those herein shown greater or less speed at the .driving end may be obtained. It is also to'be understood that not only can the apparatus be reversed in its direction of rotation, but also be reversed inits application, that is, the power being applied to the shaft 31 to drive the shaft 3 at a greatly increased rate of speed at the opposite end.

It is to be understood that the various contactingsurfaces in this apparatus are formed of hard material and are preferably smooth as the parts transmit power by a pure rolling contact, the pressure-being automatically varied with variations in load 'to such values as to eliminate the chance of slip. As above noted, moreover, all of the members rotate about floating axes. once, there is no resultant tending to bend the shaft of cause friction in the bearings.

' As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this inventioncould be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mat- Patent is from oneto the other.

ter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the, language .used in the following claims is intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a'matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 1. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a driving member, a driven member, and a plurality of sets of coacting rollers for transmitting motion 2.'In an apparatus of the character described, incombination, a shaft, a member eccentrically disposed thereto, and -sur roundingsaid shaft, and a plurality of sets of roller means adapted to transmit power interposed between said member and said shaft whereby said driven member assumes a different rate of rotation. V t 3. Inan apparatus of the character described, in combination, a shaft, a second shafteccentrically disposed thereto, a member upon said second shaft about said first shaft, and a plurality of roller means adapted to transmit power interposed between said member and said second shaft, said roller means having springs associated therewith for urging the same to gripping position at all times.

4. In an apparatus-of'the character described, in combination, a shaft, a member eccentrically disposed thereto, and a plurality of rollermeans adapted to transmit power interposed between said member and said shaft, said roller means comprising a plurality of rollers, and spring means within said roller means for forcin said rollers into frictional engagement wit the driving and. driven parts.

5. In anappa'ratus of the character described, in combination, a shaft, a member eccentrica-lly disposed thereto, and a plurality of sets of roller means adapted to transmit power interposed between said member and said driving shaft, said roller means comprising a pluralit of'rol-lers held against rotation about said s aft, and means urging the rollers into frictional; engagement with the driving and driven parts.

6. In an apparatus oft-he character described, incombination, a shaft, ameinber roller means comprising a plurality of sets of ball-bearing rollers, studsu'pon which said rollers are mounted to prevent a relative rotation thereof about said shaft and spring means within said rollers and studs urging the same into frictional engagement with the driving and driven parts .at all 8. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a shaft, a member' about said shaft, a plurality of sets of rollers adapted to transmit power and a floatin ring interposed between said member and said shaft,- studs upon which said rollers are mounted to prevent a relative rotation thereof about, the shaft and springs -mounted within said studs acting against the rollers mounted thereon adapted to urge the same into frictional contact with the driving part and said floating ring.

9. 'In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a shaft, a roller keyed, thereto,a'mernber surrounding said shaft, roller means interposedbetween said first-mentioned roller and said member adapted to transmitpower, and a floating ring on the member surrounding saidroller means. J

10. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a shaft, a roller keyed thereto, a member surrounding said 45, Y scribed, in combination, a shaft, a set of rollshaft, and roller meansinterposed between said first-mentioned'roller and said member adapted to transmit power from one to the other, one of said rollers having a curved eriphery forming single point contact w th said other roller.

'11. In an apparatus of the character deers keyed thereto, an annular member surrounding sa1d rollers, a floating ring mounted upon said annular member, androllersinterposed between said first-mentioned rollers and said ring. a

'12. In an apparatus of the character described, in. combination, ashaft, a set of rolls ers keyed thereto, an annular member sure rounding said rollers, a floating ring mounted upon said annular member, a plurality of sets of rollers interposed between saidfirstmentioned rollers and said-ring, and means for holding the same against relative rota; tion about said driving shaft.

13. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, in combination, a shaft, a set of" rollers keyed thereto, a member surrounding said rollers, a ring coacting with said member, a plurality 0 sets of rollers interposed between said first-mentionedrollers and said ring, and means for holding the same against relative rotation about said shaft.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a shaft, a set of rollers keyed thereto, a member surrounding said rollers, a ring coacting with said memher, a plurality of sets of rollersvinter osed between said first-mentioned rollers an said ring, and means for holding the same against relative rotation about said shaft, said shaft and member being eccentrically disposed whereby the sets of rollers may wedge into frictional contact with the driving and driven parts.

15. In an apparatus'of the character described, in combination, a shaft, a member surrounding said shaft, a plurality of sets of rollers of different size interposed between the driving and driven parts, and

springs associated withjsome of said rollers,

adapted to urge the same into frictional contact with the driving and driven parts.

16. In an apparatusof the character described,.in combination, a member, a member surrounding the same, aplurality of sets of rollersinterposed between said members, means for holding said rollers against relative rotation about said member, a second set of rollers positioned about the first set, and spring'means associated with some of said rollers for urging the same into frictional contact with-the driving and driven parts whereby a reverse rotation of the device may be accomplished. I

17. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a shaft and a member, a plurality of stationary members, loosely mounted rollers upon said members adapted to engage one of said members, a roller frame, rollers therein surrounding and engaging said rollers and spring means associated with some of said rollers and theparts upon which they are mounted adapted to urge the rollers into engagement with said members.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, driving and driven members,.a' plurality of stationary members, loosely mounted rollers upon said stationary members. adapted to engage the driving member, intermediate rollers engaging said first mentioned rollers and driven member and. springs associated with two of said rollers adapted-tourge one or the other of said rollers into engagement with driving and driven parts depending upon the direction ofrotation of the driven member.

19. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a driving and a driven member positioned slightly eccentric to each other, a plurality of stationary members, loosely mounted, rollers upon said members adapted to engagethe driving and driven members, springs associated with two of said rollers and the parts upon which they are mounted adapted to urge one or the other of said rollers into engagement with the driving and driven member depending upon the direction of rotation of the driven member, and a third roller adapted to move in a radial direction only.

20. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, ashaft, an intermediate rotary member, a second shaft, roller means between oneshaft and said member for transmitting power, and roller means between said member and the other shaft for turning the latter.

22. In an" apparatus of the character dcscribed, in combination, a shaft, an intermediate rotary member, a second shaft, roller means between one shaft and said member for transmitting power, and roller means between said member and the other shaft for turning the latter, "both of said .roller means comprising a plurality of rollers "adapted to wedge between the driving and driven parts.

23. In an ap aratus' of the character described, in com ination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, an intermediaterotary mem-' ber, roller means between the driving shaft and member for drivin said member, and roller means between said member: and said driven shaft for turning the latter, said roller means being so positionedv and arranged to permit a reversal of the direction of rotation of said parts. 7 w

24. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a shaft, a member eccentrically disposed thereto, a plurality of roller means intermediate the shaft and said member whereby motion is transmitted from one to the other, and a second member positioned partiallyabout said first member and having a plurality of rollers interposed between the same and said first member (lib till:

whereby motion is transmitted through said rollers from one to the other.

25. In an ap aratus of the character described, in com ination, a shaft, a member eccentrically disposed thereto, a plurality of roller means intermediate the shaft and said member whereby motion is transmitted from one to the other, and a second member positioned partially about said first member, and a plurality of rollers interposed between the same and said first member whereby motion is transmitted through said rollers from one to the other, said lastmentioned roller means comprising a frame having aplurality of sets of rollers and means coacting with said frame for moving the same through an angle of rotation to cause a reverse movement of said last-mentioned member.

. 26. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a shaft, a member,

an intermediate frame, a plurality of rollers carried on said frame coacting with said shaft and member, and means whereby said frame is'turned through an angle of rotation to permit a reverse movement of said member. p

27. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a shaft, a plurality of rollers co-ac ting therewith, a frame, rollers carried on said frame coacting' with said first-mentioned rollers, a member in engage ment with the rollers carried by the frame and adapted to be driven thereby, and reversing rollers coacting with the rollers and said frame whereby a reverse movement of the rollers will cause saidframe to move to a shifted position whereby the direction of rotation of said member is reversed.

28. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a roller, a second roller, "a shaft positioned between said rollers, and reversing rbllers positioned upon said shaft, one of said reversing rollers coacting with one roller and the other with the second roller whereby movement is transmitted from one to the other.

29. In an ap aratus of the character described, in com ination, a driving roller, a driven member, a frame, a plurality of driven rollers carried thereby for driving said driven member, intermediate reversing rollers between the driving roller and said frame coacting with both whereby a reversing movement of the driving roller tends to rotate said frame to shift its relative position of the driven member and the means for driving the same.

30. In anjapparatns of the character described, in combination, a frame, a shaft on said frame, a rubber bearing about said shaft, and a roller loosely mounted on said rubber bearing.

31.1 1 anapparatus of the character described, in combination, a shaft, an eccentric roller positioned upon said shaft, spring means intermediate theroller and the shaft adapted to be compressed when the roller is rotated at a high rate of speed whereby the roller and the shaft are maintained substantially concentric.

32. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a casing having end plates and a central partition, a driving member passing through one end plate, an intermediate driven member in the partition adapted to be rotated by the drivin member and a driven shaft passing throng the opposite'end plate, said driven shaft having a driven member thereon surrounding said intermediate driven member, a plurality of rollers on said intermediate member, rollers secured to said partition coacting with said first-mentioned rollers, and other rollers coacting with said second-mentioned rollers and the driven member. i

33. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a casing having end plates and a central partition, a driving member passing through, one ,end plate, an intermediate driven member in the partition adapted to, be rotated bythe driving mem ber and a vdriven shaft passing through the opposite. end plate, said driven shaft having a driven member thereon surrounding said intermediate driven member, avpluralityof rollers on said intermediate member, rollers secured to said partition coacting with said first-mentioned rollers, and a frame and rollers carried thereby eoacting with the driven member and said second mentioned rollers.

34. In anapparatus of the character described, in combination, a casing having-end plates and a central partition, a driving member passing through one end plate, an intermediate. driven member in the partition adapted to, be rotated by the driving member and a driven shaft passing through the.

opposite'end plate, said driven shaft having a driven member thereon surrounding said intermediate driven member, a plurality. of rollerson said intermediate member, rollers secured to said partition coacting with said first-mentioned rollers, a frame androllers carriedthereby coacting with the driven member and said. second mentioned rollers,

'and means coacting with. the intermediate driven member and said frame for moving the same relatively to the driven member whereby the direction of rotation is reversed.

35. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a casing having end plates and a central partition, a driving member passing 'throughone end plate, an intermediate driven member in the partition adapted to be rotated by the'driving memberanda driven shaft passing through the opposite end plate, said driven shaft having a driven member thereon surrounding said intermediate driven member, a plurality of rollers on said intermediate member, rollers scribed, in combination, a casing having end members, and a plurality of sets of rollers therebetween contacting with each other, the outer set of rollers contacting with one of said members and the inner set of rollers contacting with the other.

37. In an ,ap aratus of the character described, in combination, driving and driven members, rollers there'between, a second driven member, and rollers betweenthe first and second driven members.

38. In an apparatus of the character. described, in combination, driving and driven members, and a plurality of sets of rollers substantially concentrically disposed positioned therebetween.

39. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, driving'and driven members, and a plurality of sets of rollers substantially concentrically disposed positionedtherebetween, one of said sets being relatively fixed and the other movable whereby the direction of rotation of the driven member may be reversed.

40. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, driving and driven members, and a plurality of sets of rollers substantially concentrically disposed positioned therebetween, one of said sets being relatively fixed and the other revoluble thereabout whereby the rollers of the second set coact with different rollers of the first set to reverse the direction of rotation. of. the driven member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

LUDWIG M. DIETERICH.

\Vitnesses:

P. A. BLAIR, L. A. WATSON. 

